Little known things about T-rays

It has been said for a long time that X-rays help detect broken bones, or ultra-short waves that heat the body, but little is known about T-rays - a component of the electromagnetic spectrum - that can see through clothing, determine explosives and drugs, identifying tumors, even exploring the universe.

A well-dressed man was photographed by a millimetric wave camera.Notice the gun is hidden.T-ray cameras are said to be similar but more powerful.(Photo: LiveScience)

Electromagnetic spectrum extends from long wavelength radio waves to X-rays and gamma rays with short, high-energy wavelengths. Between the microwave and X-rays, in the least studied spectrum, are T-rays, or terahertz radiation - the most common type of radiation in the universe.

If you've never heard of T-rays, that's because scientists have had trouble exploiting them. Although the first scientific paper on this issue has been published since 1890, until now, people still face challenges in researching and developing the technologies that help create and play. current and T-ray control.

With more efficient sources and terahertz radiation detectors, researchers from the past decade have begun to develop filters and beam generators to control T. rays.

"At this point the technology is still very young. Terahertz is just like X-rays in 1905," said electrical engineer Daniel Mittleman, from the T-ray lab at Rice University.

Many common materials, such as clothing, plastics and wood, become transparent under terahertz photos. In addition, the material will absorb this radiation at different frequencies, depending on the type. Based on the absorption frequency - unique characteristics like "fingerprints" - researchers can identify certain types of explosives and drugs.

For example, an envelope containing a white powder looks mysterious and seems dangerous to the naked eye. But with the help of a T-ray shot, the postal worker could immediately determine whether the powder contained aspirin or methamphetamine (a substance). Explosive blocks will also be easily identified despite being hidden in bags.

The image of the T-ray shows the scratch on the car's fenders, which are not seen by ordinary images.(Photo: LiveScience)

This technology is also being used in some hospitals as a new, non-invasive diagnostic tool to search for tumors. The technique will cut costs and pain as in previous diagnostic tools.

Meanwhile, scientists at the University of Liverpool, UK, hope to destroy skin cancer cells by shining terahertz radiation . Cigarette manufacturers like Phillip Morris are looking for new ways to use T-rays in quality control in factories.

Pharmaceutical companies also use high-tech solutions, adjusting drug content without putting their hands on it. Terahertz imaging techniques even measure the thickness of a coat covering a pill.

With the help of a T-ray imaging system, built by Michigan-based company Picometrix, NASA can detect small defects of insulating foam on the shuttle. In addition, T-rays also have many other important astronomical applications. Herschel Space Observatory, a satellite scheduled to be launched in 2008 is the terahertz version of the Hubble telescope. In Chile, an ALMA center is also being built, which will monitor terahertz wavelengths in the hope of detecting objects in the original period of the universe.

T-rays are used to photograph a leaf
when dehydrated and after water addition
(Photo: LiveScience)

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